The Deliverance Of A Demonic Lunatic Matthew 17:14-21; Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-42

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1 T H E M I R A C L E S O F C H R I S T (HEALING MIRACLES) The Deliverance Of A Demonic Lunatic Matthew 17:14-21; Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-42 Matthew, Mark, and Luke record this particular healing miracle, which again involved the demon-possessed. By way of background; Prior to this, Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John up into a mountain, where He was transfigured (appeared in radiant glory) before them (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36). Matthew, and Mark both record what happened as Jesus, Peter, James, and John made their way down the mountain (Matthew 17:9-13; Mark 9:9-13), and the miracle involving this demoniac took place after they came down from the mountain. When Jesus and these three came down from the mountain they saw a great multitude of people around the other nine, and the scribes were questioning them (Mark 9:14). When the multitude saw Jesus they ran toward Him (Mark 9:15), and Jesus proceeded to ask the scribes why they were questioning the disciples (Mark 9:16). Before the scribes could answer the question, the father of a demon-possessed son came kneeling before Christ, telling Him how he had brought his son to the apostles in hope that they could deliver him from the bondage and control of the demon, but they were unable to do so (Matthew 17:14-16; Mark 9:17-18; Luke 9:38-40). Jesus proceeded to have the demoniac brought to Him, and He delivered him from the demon! In doing so, He released the demoniac from the awful oppression of the demon, and the father of this one from an overwhelming burden, and He also taught His apostles a valuable lesson about faith! I. A MIRACLE IN A DESPERATE SITUATION The Father Of The Demoniac Had An Overwhelming Burden: The father came and knelt before Christ, pleading for mercy; Lord have mercy on my son (Matthew 17:15). Luke has it; I beseech thee, look upon my son (Luke 9:38). In those words my son there is disturbance and trouble of mind and heart! Luke in his account records; look upon my son: for he is mine only child (Luke 9:38). There is great emotion in those words! These are the words of one who is anxious and very fearful! These are the words of a man who is experiencing great anguish and distress! These are the words of a man who is in great turmoil! These are the words of a man who is greatly pained, grief-stricken, and at the point of despair! These are the words of a man who is weighted down with a heavy burden, a man being crushed with the weight of his burden. These are the words of a man who is greatly troubled, one who

2 is unsettled, and restless, extremely concerned and saddened! He went on to tell Jesus that he had brought his son to the apostles, hoping that they could deliver him, but they could not (Matthew 17:16; Mark 9:18; Luke 9:40). These are the words of a man who is extremely disappointed! These are the words of a man who is despondent, disheartened, and discouraged! This is a man who is overwhelmed, and desperate! The Condition Of This Man s Son Was Critical And Seemingly Hopeless: Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record the description of this man s son: He Was Under The Control Of This Demon: The father in describing the influence that the demon had upon his son, said And wheresoever he (the demon) taketh him (Mark 9:18). This phrase is indicative of the fact that this man s son was in the absolute bondage and control of this demon. He Was Lunatick: The father said for he is a lunatick (Matthew 17:15). That is, as a result of this demon-possession, his son was insane, a maniac, and a madman! THIS MAN S SON WAS OUT OF HIS MIND! He Was Painfully Vexed: The father in describing his son said in Matthew 17:15 that in addition to being lunatick he was sore (painfully) vexed That is, he was extremely irritated by this demon to the point of exasperation! He Was Suicidal: The father in describing his son said in Matthew 17:15 as a manifestation of his son s lunacy and irritation; for oftentimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water The father is saying; my son, he is out of his mind, he lives in torment and misery, and he frequently tries to commit suicide He Was Mute: The father in describing his son said in Mark 9:17 Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb (mute) spirit As a result of demon-possession, he could not speak! He Was Deaf: Jesus referred to this spirit (demon) in Mark 9:25 as a dumb (mute) and deaf spirit As a result of demon-possession, he could not speak, and he could not hear!

3 He Was Greatly Harmed: The father in describing his son said in Mark 9:18 he (the demon) teareth him (breaks and shatters him, and throws him into convulsions), and he foameth (like a mad animal), and gnasheth with his teeth (rage). Luke records and bruising (wounding, and injuring) him (Luke 9:39). He Was Continually Getting Worse: The father said of his son in Mark 9:18 and pineth away He was in a state of weakness and decline! He Was Defiled: The demon that possessed and controlled this individual is referred to as a foul (repulsive) spirit (Mark 9:25), and an unclean (filthy and defiling) spirit (Luke 9:42). This father s son manifested disgusting and repulsive behavior! For years this father had dealt with the affliction of his son. Mark records that when Jesus asked the father; How long is it ago since this came unto him? and the father responded of a child (Mark 9:21). No doubt, both father and son were desperate and tired, and the father s appeal in Mark 9:22 if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us reflects both desperation and exhaustion! THIS FATHER AND SON NEEDED A MIRACLE IN THEIR LIVES! They were both suffering terribly, they were both afflicted and hurting, they were desperately needing the restoration and help that only God could give! THEY HAD IN THEIR LIVES MORE THAN THEY COULD BEAR! THEY HAD IN THEIR LIVES WHT MAN COULD NOT CURE! THEY WERE IN DESPERATE NEED OF A MIRACLE! Jesus Rebuked The Faith Of The Multitude: Following the father s declaration that the apostles, could not Jesus, in the hearing of all rebuked their lack of faith (Matthew 17:17; Mark 9:19; Luke 9:41). The Instruction Of Jesus Concerning The Situation: This father had pleaded concerning his son s desperate and seemingly impossible and hopeless situation, and hearing of the man s circumstances, and knowing that they were in need of a miracle, Jesus gave instruction for the son to be brought to Him (Matthew 17:17; Mark 9:19; Luke 9:41). HE WAS TO BE BROUGHT TO JESUS, JUST AS HE WAS! Again, this man s son is insane (out of his mind, a maniac, and a madman), and Jesus says bring him unto me This man s son is living a life of torment, and misery, he is suicidal, and on a path of ruin, and Jesus says bring him unto me This man s son is in bondage, he is broken and shattered, he is like a mad animal, he is in a rage, and he is wasting away, and Jesus says bring him unto me This man and his son were in a hopeless and impossible situation, and Jesus says bring him unto me THIS IS STILL THE LORD S INSTRUCTION TODAY! THIS IS

4 WHERE THE ANSWER IS FOUND! The very One who gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, relief to the infirm, release to the possessed, and cleansing to the defiled, the One who has dried more tears than anyone, the One who has brought more hope, more cheer, and more comfort than anyone, says to each one of us Bring (whatever it is) unto Me There is no battle He cannot win, and He stands in the midst of the battle as the prevailing One and says Bring the battle to Me There is no problem that He is not the solution for, and He stands in the midst of the problems as the solution, and says Bring the problem to Me There is no need that He cannot provide, and He stands in the midst of the need as God s provision, and says Bring the need to Me There is no obstacle that He cannot overcome, and He stands in the midst of the obstacles and says Bring the obstacle to Me There is nothing broken that He cannot mend, and He stands in the midst of that which is broken and says Bring that which is broken unto Me There is nothing ruined that He cannot restore, and He stands in the midst of the ruins and says Bring that which is ruined unto Me There is no load that He cannot carry, and He says Bring the load unto Me There is no life that He cannot salvage, and He stands in the midst of lives that need salvaging and says Bring the life unto Me There is no storm that He cannot calm! There is no wayward direction that He cannot reverse! There is no wound that He cannot heal, and He stands in the midst of it all, with this instruction Bring it unto Me The Instruction Of Christ Was Obeyed: Jesus made no promise, He simply said; Bring him unto Me and the son was brought to Christ (Mark 9:20). IN ALL SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES, MAN IS SIMPLY TO OBEY WHAT THE LORD SAYS! The Father s Faith Is Tested And Challenged: As this demon-possessed son is brought to Christ; the demon made an all-out effort to destroy the one he possessed (Mark 9:20; Luke 9:42a). The Lord permitted this to be done, in order to test the father s faith, and to bring him to further dependence upon Christ (Mark 9:21-22). Jesus then challenged the faith of this father (Mark 9:23), causing him to confess his own weakness, and to further depend upon Christ (Mark 9:24). The Miraculous Power Of Christ Exhibited: Christ exercised His authority over Satanic forces; Matthew records And Jesus rebuked the devil (Matthew 17:18). Mark records that Jesus said I charge thee come out of him (Mark 9:25), and Luke records And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit (Luke 9:42). The result of this display of Christ s authority was, and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour (Matthew 17:18), and came out of him (Mark 9:26), and healed the child, and delivered him again unto his father (Luke 9:42). THE SON WAS BROUGHT TO JESUS, AND JESUS MADE RIGHT WHAT WAS WRONG! Again, Luke records; that Jesus healed the child, and

5 delivered him again unto his father Imagine the joy of this father when his son, his only child was brought to him, in his right mind, no longer suicidal, no longer dumb and deaf, no longer in the bondage, and under the control and sway of the demon, no longer animal like, no longer in a state of rage, no longer wounded, and injured! As the father looked at his son his only child HE SAW A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSON! Looking at his son HE SAW THE RESULT OF THE MIRACULOUS POWER OF CHRIST! The son was set free and released, AND THE FATHER HAD THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD LIFTED OFF OF HIM! Father and son, had experienced a miracle! Jesus said bring him unto Me AND WHAT NO ONE ELSE COULD DO WAS DONE! II. JESUS TEACHES THE APOSTLES CONCERNING FAITH The Apostles Approached Christ Wondering Why They Lacked The Power To Heal This Man: Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record the father s words concerning the apostles; they could not (Matthew 17:16; Mark 9:18; Luke 9:40). THEY HAD AUTHORITY TO CAST OUT DEMONS (Matthew 10:1). Yet three times over it is stated they could not THERE WAS A POWER FAILURE ON THEIR PART! The apostles now approach Christ with the question; Why could not we cast him out? (Matthew 17:19; Mark 9:28). Jesus puts the reason for their inability entirely upon themselves Because of your unbelief (Matthew 17:20). Jesus Told Them That They Needed A Certain Kind Of Faith: Jesus spoke about a faith attended with power, a miracle-working power, a power to move mountains! This power lies in what is compared to a grain of mustard seed and is identified as faith Jesus said If (a conditional clause) ye (personal) have (present tense) faith as (indicating a comparison) a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain (pointing to the mountain that Christ, Peter, James, and John had just descended) remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you (Matthew 17:20). This raises the question; What is faith as a grain of a mustard seed? In answering this question, an explanation of faith is necessary. Faith is to be persuaded in spite of what is seen with the human eye. Faith is confidence in God. Faith is dependence and reliance upon God. Faith is unreserved trust in God. Faith is surrender to God. Faith is leaning upon God, resting upon God, and cleaving to God. Faith is looking to God, coming unto God, fleeing to God, and casting self upon God. Faith is living in the reality of God. In Light Of What Faith Is, It Becomes Clear What Mustard Seed Faith Is Not: The question of the disciples to Jesus was Why could not we cast him out? Jesus said If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed (Matthew 17:20). The mustard-seed is one of the smallest seeds! However, Jesus is not saying to the disciples You could have cast the demon out, if you just had a tiny bit of faith He did not say If ye had

6 faith the size of a grain of mustard seed But, If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed JESUS IS NOT COMMENDING LITTLE OR TINY FAITH! In fact Jesus consistently rebuked such faith; He said in Matthew 6;30 O ye of little faith and to Peter in Matthew 14:31 O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? and to the disciples in Matthew 16:8 O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves? JESUS DOES NOT REBUKE LITTLE FAITH AND THEN COMMEND IT SOMEWHERE ELSE! Jesus was not suggesting that all they needed was a little, or tiny faith! He was not saying that they needed a little or tiny bit of persuasion in God, or a little or tiny confidence, in God! Or a little or tiny bit of dependence, and reliance upon God! Or a little or tiny bit of trust and surrender to the Lord! He was not saying that they needed just to lean upon God just a little bit! HE WAS SAYING THAT THEY NEEDED A SPECIAL KIND OF FAITH! When Jesus speaks of faith as a grain of mustard seed HE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT THE SIZE OF FAITH, BUT THE TYPE OF FAITH! What Is Meant By Faith As A Grain Of A Mustard Seed: Faith as a grain of mustard seed is the kind of faith that can move mountains, the kind of faith that can face impossibilities! The Parable Of The Mustard Seed (Mark 4:30-32) helps clarify what Jesus meant by faith as a grain of mustard seed It is living, active, growing, strong, visible and wonder-working faith! Jesus Told Them That Such A Faith Is Obtainable: Howbeit (nevertheless, however), this kind ( faith as a grain of a mustard seed ), goeth not out (the activity of such faith) but by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21). This speaks of the fact, that not only is such a faith obtainable, but should be desired and sought after! This particular miracle was beneficial in so many ways; the demon-possessed son was delivered from the awful oppression of the demon; the father was relieved of a tremendous burden; the apostles were told the reason for their power failure in Christ s service, and instructed concerning the faith that they needed; and the multitudes were amazed at the power of Christ (Luke 9:43).